Patents by Inventor R. Smith

R. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7741262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions including a water soluble magnesium salt, water soluble calcium salt, and gluconate, which have a beneficial effect on corrosion during cleaning. The present compositions can reduce corrosion of a variety of surfaces including glass, aluminum, chrome, copper, and steel. The present invention also relates to methods employing these compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Michel M. Lawrence, Michael J. Bartelme
  • Patent number: 7743394
    Abstract: Reporting data related to content processing devices, e.g., television devices, are processed to identify channel tunes and corresponding tune times of the content processing devices. Automatically generated channel tunes based on the corresponding tune times are identified. Content items that are aired during a time period defined by the corresponding tune times can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Kaustuv, Daniel J. Zigmond, Jay Shrauner, John Alastair Hawkins, Simon Rowe, Michael A. Killianey, Yaroslav Volovich, Iain Merrick
  • Publication number: 20100149660
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide focusing, focus-adjusting, and sensing. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of focus greater than a nominal depth of focus. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes focus-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K.Y. Jung, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100153399
    Abstract: A framework is provided for obtaining window information. The window information can be applied to different assignment models to assign windows to different groups. A group may correspond to a task being performed by a user. The window information can be semantic or temporal information captured as window events and properties of windows whose events are captured. Temporal information can be information about switches between windows. Semantic information can be window titles. Temporal information, semantic information, or both, can be used to assign windows to groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nuria M. Oliver, Arungunram C. Surendran, Chintan S. Thakkar, Gregory R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7739316
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method, in a computer system, for a hardware/software interface system to manipulate a plurality of discrete units of information having properties understandable by said hardware/software interface system, Items. The method uses a base schema comprising at least one of an Item as a base Item from which all other Items are derived, and at least one of a property as a base property from which all other properties are derived. Furthermore, an Item may comprise a property for referencing Categories to which the Item is a member. The Item may also comprise a property for a unique identification of that Item in the hardware/software interface system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: J. Patrick Thompson, Kim Cameron, Walter R. Smith, Anil K. Nori
  • Patent number: 7736080
    Abstract: A writing instrument has a barrel, a flag dispenser partially inserted into the barrel, and a rotating or sliding cover that engages with and covers the flag dispenser. In different positions, the rotating or sliding cover enables various functions of the flag dispenser. For example, the cover may be moved into a position to enable withdrawal of tape flags by a user. The cover may also be configured to move into a position that covers and protects the tape flags. In refillable embodiments of the writing instrument, the cover may also be removed to enable a flip cover portion of the flag dispenser to be opened to provide access to a tape flag chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Sanford L.P.
    Inventors: Danny R. Smith, Jr., Brian D. Furlong, Jaime Arenas
  • Publication number: 20100145590
    Abstract: A lean blowout protection system and method is provided that facilitates improved lean blowout protection while providing effective control of turbine engine speed. The lean blowout protection system and method selectively and gradually biases the lean blowout (LBO) schedule based on current engine data. This facilitates improved lean blowout protection while providing effective control of turbine engine speed and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Tom G. Mulera, Tim Belling, Shane R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100144578
    Abstract: A method for washing an article using a molded detergent composition is provided. The method includes generating an aqueous solution from a solid block molded detergent composition and washing the article with the use solution. The molded detergent composition is a result of mixing and molding a mixture without heating. The molded detergent composition includes a hydrated component, a hydratable component and an enzyme. The hydrated component is provided in a solid state during mixing and molding. The hydratable component includes water, if present at all, at a level of less than about 2 wt. % based on the weight of the hydratable component. The hydratable component is a component which successfully competes with the hydrated component for at least a portion of the water of hydration. The enzyme constitutes between about 0.01 wt. % and about 10 wt. % of the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Victor Fuk-Pong Man, Wendy Wiseth, Richard Stardig
  • Patent number: 7733289
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide electromagnetic compression. In some approaches the electromagnetic compression is achieved with metamaterials. In some approaches the electromagnetic compression defines an electromagnetic distance between first and second locations substantially greater than a physical distance between the first and second locations, and the first and second locations may be occupied by first and second structures (such as antennas) having an inter-structure coupling (such as a near-field coupling) that is a function of the electromagnetic distance. In some approaches the electromagnetic compression reduces the spatial extent of an antenna near field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventors: John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100138309
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating money transfer payments for mobile wireless device postpaid services include receiving, from a vendor location, a money transfer payment for mobile wireless device postpaid services fulfillment request including a mobile wireless device phone number and a corresponding payment amount. A destination wireless service provider that serves the mobile wireless device is identified based on the phone number, and the payment for mobile wireless device postpaid services request or a formatted version thereof is delivered to a billing system of the destination wireless service provider. A fulfillment confirmation or denial associated with the payment for mobile wireless device postpaid services fulfillment request is thereafter received, and when a fulfillment confirmation is received, payment is provided to the destination wireless service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: RECARGAX, INC.
    Inventors: Peter A. Kramer, William J. Peters, Thilo Rusche, Mark R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7730114
    Abstract: A file system that does not conflate item lifetime with the item's inclusion in an organizational structure of the file system is described herein. In addition, the file system's organizational structure is not limited to directory trees, but instead may use any directed acyclic graph (DAG). Items, once stored into the file system, may be maintained until affirmatively deleted by a client of the file system, regardless of whether the item is part of a DAG or not. Items may be placed in file regions, which are conceptual workspaces for a client to control item lifetime and to organize items into any DAG structure of the user's choosing. Items may be concurrently stored in multiple DAGs, and each file region may have one or more independent DAGs. An item's placement in a DAG may also be used to govern file properties such as namespace, security, privacy, and read/write attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bybee, Anil K. Nori, Balan Sethu Raman, Timothy P. McKee, Walter R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100127725
    Abstract: The contacts of a probing apparatus are elastically supported on a replaceable coupon and electrically interconnected with conductors on a membrane or a space transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100131375
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating money transfer payments for mobile wireless device prepaid services include receiving, from a vendor location, a money transfer payment for mobile wireless device prepaid services fulfillment request including a mobile wireless device phone number and a corresponding payment amount. A destination wireless service provider that serves the mobile wireless device is identified based on the phone number, and the payment for mobile wireless device prepaid services request or a formatted version thereof is delivered to the destination wireless service provider. A fulfillment confirmation or denial associated with the payment for mobile wireless device prepaid services fulfillment request is thereafter received, and when a fulfillment confirmation is received, payment is provided to the destination wireless service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: RECARGAX, INC.
    Inventors: Peter A. Kramer, William J. Peters, Thilo Rusche, Mark R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7723985
    Abstract: A magnetometer is constructed wherein the sweeping is performed at one half the Larmor frequency and has as its center the absorption line. This allows the emitter to tune onto the absorption line twice per cycle as it passes through the line. This causes the increase in absorption as would the normal sweep of a Bell-Bloom magnetometer but avoids the drawbacks, such as drift and heading error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Geometrics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7722275
    Abstract: In one embodiment of a writing instrument with a tape flag dispenser, a writing instrument has a body portion, a writing tip, and a flag dispenser that can be attached to and detached from the body portion. The flag dispenser holds a supply of tape flags, such as a folded stack of tape flags, which can be removed through an opening in the dispenser. The flag dispenser can be, for example, a cap that covers the writing tip or an attachment that affixes to an end of the body portion. In another embodiment, a writing instrument has a body portion, a writing tip, a flag dispenser integrally incorporated into the body portion, a containing section housed in the flag dispenser, and an opening in the containing section through which tape flags can be issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Sanford, L.P.
    Inventors: Jacqueline Erlebacher, Andrew Bielecki, Barry H. Jacobs, Jaime Arenas, Brian D. Furlong, Danny R. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7725596
    Abstract: An information object repository is configured to resolve a network layer anycast address to a network layer unicast address in response to a request for an information object at the network layer anycast address. The information object repository may be further configured to resolve the network layer anycast address by transmitting a request for the network layer unicast address and awaiting a response thereto, and, in some cases, to return a failure message to a source of the request for the information object if the response to the request for the network layer unicast address is not received within a timeout period. Preferably, the request for the network layer unicast address is a single IP packet that includes the network layer anycast address. Similarly, the request for the network layer unicast address is preferably a single IP packet that includes the network layer unicast address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Adara Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves, Bradley R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7721323
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for including network security information in a frame is disclosed. Network security information is included in a secure portion of overhead of a frame. The network security information is configured to facilitate network security. A network device configured to process a frame is also disclosed. The frame includes frame security information and network security information. The frame security information is configured to facilitate securing a portion of overhead of the frame, and the network security information is located in the secure portion of the overhead of the frame and is configured to facilitate network security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman W. Finn, Michael R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100117346
    Abstract: A balancing system for an agricultural vehicle includes a balance weight which has take-up pins at its sides. The pins are oriented coaxially to a common pivot axis so that the balancing weight can be taken up by the lower links of a three point implement hitch. When the balance weight has been taken up, it can be moved from a position of the center of gravity (S) of the balance weight close to the vehicle to a position distant from the vehicle. In order to attain a balance as optimal as possible, the position of the center of gravity of the balance weight in its position close to the vehicle is located below the pivot axis. Pivoting devices are provided so that the balance weight can be pivoted about the pivot axis so that it can also be brought from a position close to the vehicle to a position distant from the vehicle, where the balance weight occupies a lower position of the center of gravity in the position close to the vehicle than in the position distant from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bauer, Paul R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7716134
    Abstract: A method of operating a self service terminal (SST) (12) is described, in which the SST (12) detects characteristics of a mobile computing device held by a user (16), and configures the user interface dependent on the detected characteristics. The characteristics may include features of the mobile device, such as communication facilities, or may include user identification information. Where the user is identified, a user profile may be retrieved from a remote SST operator (14). Certain embodiments of the invention may detect devices held by a second or subsequent user (18), and retrieve the relevant user profile prior to the second user (18) interacting with the SST (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Black, Martin R. Smith, John G. Savage
  • Patent number: D617158
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Kevin R. Smith